Couch.



No. 634,2!2. Patented Oct. 3, |899. C. H. GRAWITZ.

cousu.

{Applcntion filed Feb, 24, 1899.)

(No Model.

Nrrnn l STATES .FAInNT @Errea CHRISTIAN II. GRAWITZ, on EASTON,PENNSYLVANIA.

COUCH.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 634,212, dated ctober 3,1899.

Application filed February 24, 1399. ASerial No. 706,719. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHRISTIAN H. GRAWITZ, a citizen of the lUnitedStates, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCouches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to cots, and more particularly to that classknown as invalid couches, and the object ot' the invention is to obtaina Wide range of adjustment, Whereby the invalid may be changed to manycoinfortable positions.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combination of parts which will behereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my couch,showing theleg and seat sections in a horizontal position. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing Vthem inclined. Fig. 3 is a vieW of the clamp-Washer. Fig. 4 isa view of the inner side of the slotted bar; and Fig. 5 is a View takenthrough one of the legs of the seat-section, the clamp-Washer, slottedbar, and thumb-nut. j

In the drawings, l denotes the seat-section, 2 the leg-rest section, and3 the back-section, these sections being hinged together, asillustrated. f

4 denotes a bracket secured to the back of the back-rest section, andthis bracket supports a pivotedrack-bar 5, which engages With aslottedcatch-plate 6, secured to the rear end of the seat-section.

7 denotes a cord or rope by means of Which the rack-bar may be freedfrom its catch and the back be adjusted to the desired inclination, andin order to enable the patient or occupant of the cot to incline hislimbs by arching his knees and support them in this inclined positionwithout strain I have provided means whereby the invalid, Without anyfa-V tigue to himself, may incline in opposite directions the seat andleg-rest sections, as shown in Fig. 2, and lock these sections in suchadjustment. The means which I employ for accomplishing this result Iwill now proceed to describe.

.- 8 denotes a bracket Secured to the under edge of the leg-restsectionand having pivoted thereto a slotted arm 9, theinner face of which ispreferably serrated, as shown at 10. This serrated face engages with theserrated face of a Washer l1, located upon a screw 12 and having prongswhich embed themselves in the leg and prevent the Washer from turning. Athumb-nut is screwed upon the end of the screw and clamps the slottedbar to the Washer and holds the leg-rest and seat sections in the.desired adjustment.

A person lying in a perfectly horizontal position would experienceconsiderable difficulty in adjusting the seat and leg-rest sections tothe position shownin Fig. 2, and in order to overcome this I haveprovided a spring or springs 13, one end of which is connected to theleg-rest section and the other end to the seat-section, the energy beingeX- erted to elevate the abutting ends of the leg and seat sections, andthereby incline these sections in opposite directions. To secure thisinclined position, all that is necessary is for the occupant of thecouch to loosen the thumb-nut and slip the serrated face of the bar fromthe serrated face of the Washer. The spring Will now exert its energyand draw the leg and seat sections up into position, as shown in Fig. 2,in which position the parts may be locked by clamping the thumb-nut.

From the foregoing description,` taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages ofthe device will be readily understood Without requiring an extendedexplanation.

The couch is simple`,vstrong, and may be made at small cost, so as to beWithin the reach of all classes.

It Will of course be understood that various changes in theform,proportion,and the minor details of construction may be resorted toWithout departing from the principle or saerificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a couch, the combination with the seat and leg-rest sectionshinged togetherone of said sections provided with a bracket having aslotted bar pivoted thereto, means for ad justably clamping the slottedbar to the other section, and a spring connecting the two sections andexerting its energy to elevate the abutting ends of said sections,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a couch, the combination with the leg and seat sections hingedtogether, a bracket carried by one section, a slotted bar pivoted tosaid bracket and having serrations on its inner face, a screw-studcarried by the other section, a washer mounted on said screw-studagainst rotation, and provided with a serrated face to engage theserrated face of the slotted bar, and a thumb-nut screwed upon saidscrew-stud for clamping the parts together, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a couch, the combination with the leg and seat sections hingedtogether, a bracket CHRISTIAN H. GRAWITZ.

Witnesses:

CHAs. B. BRUNNER, HARRY W. HERMAN.

